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Endsleigh: Car owners warned over valuables

07 December 2006

Despite recent figures indicating that car theft is dropping nationally, motoring experts are cautioning that cases of theft of belongings from cars is on the up.

In Endsleigh's Motoring Cities 2006 study earlier this week it was revealed that claims for car theft had dropped by 31 per cent over the last three years.

However, the director of motor security firm Auto Theft Merchandise said that people are being lulled into a false sense of security and are leaving more things on display in their cars, leading to a rise in smash and grab crime.

Andy Mills said: "Theft of vehicles has definitely gone down due to manufacturers fitting immobilisers at the factory. However, theft from vehicles has actually gone up. People leave stuff on display in the cars and it's easy to nick."

A recent study by the Post Office bears out Mr Mills' opinion, with the finding that "careless" car owners are leaving valuables estimated to be worth £3.3 billion in full view when away from their cars.

The Endsleigh study shows that motorists in Hull, Bradford and Leeds need to be at their most vigilant when parking their cars. The rate of car theft in Hull is 126.1 per cent above the national average.

The safest place to park a car in the UK without fear of theft is Norwich, followed by Solihull and Swindon.